Not
An
Inch
to
the
West,
Not
An
Inch
to
the
East!
Date:
7/27/2008
Psalm
146
John
14.1-6
Series:
Oh,
The
Faiths
You
Can
Think!
The
Theology
of
Dr.
Seuss
Delivered
by:
Dr.
William
M.
Smutz
Just
about
this
time
of
July
two
years
ago,
I
made
a
trip
from
I
was
amazed
at
how
much
longer
it
took
to
get
around
town,
because
most
of
the
traffic
lights
were
out
of
service.
By
and
large,
drivers
were
very
polite
toward
each
other;
stopping
and
waiting
their
turn;
often
inviting
others
to
proceed
through
an
intersection
ahead
of
them.
There
was
a
sense
that
since
everyone
was
in
this
mess
together,
they
might
as
well
help
each
other
out.
Every
now
and
then,
unfortunately,
there
were
drivers
who
were
not
so
patient
or
polite;
who
tried
to
push
their
way
through
an
intersection
without
waiting
their
turn.
We’ve
all
seen
drivers
like
this
–
the
ones
who
move
down
the
road
with
an
irritating
sense
of
entitlement
–
acting
like
everyone
else
had
best
get
out
of
the
way!
As
you
might
expect,
the
reaction
to
these
drivers
was
not
pleasant.
The
strain
of
living
without
electricity
in
the
heat
and
humidity
of
Intersections
that
had
been
flowing
smoothly
even
without
working
lights,
quickly
melted
down
into
gridlock,
with
everyone
going
nowhere!
It
felt
as
if
we
had
all
become
Zax’s,
and
fallen
into
Dr.
Seuss’s
story!
Like
any
good
story,
the
Zax
offers
us
multiple
entry
points,
and
multiple
levels
of
meaning.
Whatever
we
bring
to
a
story
like
this
–
our
mood,
our
age,
our
life
experiences,
our
hopes
and
dreams….
Whatever
we
bring
to
a
story
like
The
Zax,
there
is
a
place
for
us
to
plug
into
the
story;
there
is
meaning
based
on
what
we
are
ready
and
able
and
willing
to
hear.
Written
in
the
early
1960’s,
I
believe
The
Zax
is
at
one
level
a
commentary
on
the
Cold
War
–
how
the
United
States
and
the
Soviet
Union
were
locked
in
a
staring
match
while
the
world
moved
around
them.
But
it
is
also
the
story
of
my
grade
school
playground,
where
we
boys
regularly
stood
our
ground
over
the
silliest
of
things…..
And
were
usually
rewarded
for
our
stubbornness
with
a
trip
to
the
principal’s
office,
while
our
friends
got
to
stay
outside
and
play.
The
Zax
speaks
about
situations
today
as
well
–
the
standoffs
between
social
conservatives
and
social
progressives;
between
republicans
and
democrats;
between
religious
folks
who
come
from
different
places
on
the
theological
spectrum…..
And
closer
still,
The
Zax
reminds
us
of
those
places
in
our
homes,
and
marriages,
and
work
places,
and
church,
and
relationships
where
we
are
stuck……
Stuck
in
confrontation;
stuck
in
uncertainty;
stuck
in
fear;
stuck
in
self
absorption;
stuck
in
self
loathing….
Stuck
not
knowing
the
way
to
go.
The
final
picture
of
the
story
speaks
volumes
–
the
two
Zax,
standing
resolutely
in
place;
having
been
paralyzed
by
stubbornness
for
years,
while
the
world
has
passed
them
by.
They
have
been
there
so
long
that
they
don’t
know
what
to
do;
they
don’t
know
how
to
get
beyond
their
stuckness…..
Their
unwillingness
to
see
or
think
or
act
differently
has
cost
them
joy
and
life
and
future!
It
seems
to
me
that
all
too
often
in
our
daily
journeys,
we
approach
each
other
more
like
north
and
south
going
Zax’s
than
anything
else…..
More
interested
in
what
we
are
doing
and
where
we
have
to
be…..
More
interested
in
ourselves,
than
in
those
we
encounter
along
the
way.
When
we
get
like
this
–
so
into
ourselves;
so
into
our
sense
of
privilege;
so
into
the
absolute
rightness
of
our
beliefs
and
attitudes
and
causes….
When
we
get
like
this,
we
usually
just
make
a
mess
of
things.
I
think
this
self-centeredness
happens
because
we
have
lost
our
way……
Because
we
have
forgotten
the
love
in
which
God
made
us….
And
forgotten
our
calling
as
disciples
of
Jesus
to
share
this
love.
In
our
Gospel
lesson,
Jesus
announces
that
he
can
help
all
of
us
who
have
lost
our
way
and
become
stuck.
Jesus
quietly
shares
with
Thomas
that
he
is
the
way;
that
he
can
and
does
show
us
how
to
get
to
the
I
think
one
of
the
greatest
challenges
we
have
as
followers
of
Jesus,
is
to
let
him
be
our
way…..
To
let
him
direct
our
thoughts
and
words
and
attitudes
and
actions……
To
acknowledge
him
as
Lord
and
Savior,
and
follow
him,
rather
than
try
to
make
it
on
our
own.
We’ve
all
been
taught
for
so
long
that
we
have
to
make
our
own
way
in
the
world…..
That
it
becomes
all
too
easy
for
us
to
assume
we’re
in
charge
of
our
own
destiny….
To
assume
we
can
do
what
we
want,
and
act
like
we
want,
and
walk
north
or
south
as
we
want…..
And
that
everyone
else
will
get
out
of
our
way……
That
everyone
else
has
to
get
out
of
our
way!
Being
a
disciple
comes
with
the
expectation
that
we
will
believe
and
think
and
act
differently.
Being
a
disciple
is
an
invitation
to
view
the
world,
and
especially
the
lives
of
others
as
holy
ground,
and
proceed
accordingly.
How
are
we
doing
as
individual
disciples
and
as
a
faith
community
here
at
Central
these
days?
Are
we
moving
among
each
other
like
we
are
letting
Jesus
show
us
the
way……
Or
are
we
acting
more
like
Zax’s?!
The
good
news,
the
great
news,
is
that
Jesus
never
stops
inviting
us
to
see
him
as
the
way,
and
follow
him
on
the
way.
The
good
news,
the
great
news,
is
that
God
built
goodness
and
holiness
into
everyone
of
us….
Meaning
that
the
holy
ground
of
each
other’s
lives
is
always
available.
Through
the
story
of
Moses
and
the
burning
bush
in
the
book
of
Exodus,
we
learn
that
whenever
we’re
on
holy
ground
we
should
take
off
our
shoes
as
a
sign
of
respect,
as
an
act
of
gentleness
and
faithfulness.
What
would
happen
if,
as
we
leave
here
this
morning,
we
mentally
took
of
our
shoes
and
walked
around
for
the
week
to
come
as
if
we
are
on
holy
ground?
I
can
imagine
that
the
Zax-like
side
of
us
will
melt
away….
And
we
will
experience
each
other
and
the
world
very
differently….
More
like
God
wants
us
to,
and
expects
us
to.
That’s
our
homework!
Amen!!!